Systems and Methods for Stripping and/or Finishing Wood Surfaces

ABSTRACT

Apparatuses, systems and methods strip and/or finish wood surfaces. Specifically, the present invention relates to using systems and methods utilizing rotary apparatuses having metal embedded or bonded industrial diamonds to cut, grind, and polish wood surfaces.

The present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Pat. App. No. 61/733,893, titled “Systems and Methods for Stripping and/or Finishing Wood Surfaces,” filed Dec. 5, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to systems and methods for stripping and/or finishing wood surfaces. Specifically, the present invention relates to using systems and methods utilizing rotary apparatuses having metal embedded or bonded industrial diamonds to cut, grind, and polish wood surfaces.

BACKGROUND

It is, of course, generally known to fix imperfections in surfaces of all kinds. Surfaces such as wood, plastic, concrete, or metal are not naturally smooth, shiny, or uniform. The process for fixing imperfections is time consuming, strenuous, and requires many different materials.

For example, it is generally known to use sandpaper to fix imperfections in wood. Sandpaper is an abrasive material that may be used to remove imperfections from a surface or remove an entire layer from a surface by rubbing the sandpaper on the surface.

Sand paper comes in a variety of grit sizes, which refers to the size of the abrasion material embedded in the sand paper. The higher the grit size, the finer the diameter of the abrasion material. Generally, one will start sanding with a coarse material and gradually work up the grit sizes in order to arrive at a smooth, finished surface.

Sandpaper comes in a variety of sizes depending on the size of the imperfection. Sandpaper could be a nine-inch by eleven-inch sheet, a belt for use on belt sanders, a disc for use on rotary sanders, or a sponge for tight places.

Generally, belt sanders can be small handheld devices or large machines that turn a loop of mounted sandpaper. Belt sanders are commonly used on wood during beginning stages of sanding to remove finishing, paint, or other surface materials. However, belt sanders are disadvantageous because they can only be used unidirectionally.

Commonly, rotary sanders are used on wood floor surfaces or other large projects. Rotary sanders may be used in all directions, however, when working on a large project rotary sanders have to pass over the same area multiple times with multiple grit sizes. Sanding an entire room with a rotary sander may take days.

Drum sanders or rotary sanders, whether as large machines or hand held devices, are difficult to utilize quickly and efficiently, especially over a large surface, such as a large room, a deck, or the like. Typically, either a drum sander or a rotary sander may be used to strip one or more layers of paint, varnish, wax or other surface coating from a surface. In a first pass, the grit is typically very abrasive, such as a 32 or 36 grit, for example, in order to remove large amounts and relatively deeply into the wood surface. After the abrasive grit, a second or third pass is typically done with a medium abrasive grit, such as about 60 to 80 grit, for example. After that, a final pass is typically done using a finely abrasive grit, such as above 80, to smooth the wood and prepare the wood to receive paint, stain or another material.

In using sandpaper to abrade a wood surface, it is common to have to change the sandpaper frequently during the process. This is due to wear on the sandpaper. As the sandpaper is utilized, it loses its abrasiveness as the abrasive material rubs off of the sandpaper. Moreover, due to the relative fragility of paper, the sandpaper frequently becomes worn or torn during use.

A need, therefore, exists for an apparatus, system and method for stripping and/or finishing a wood surface that may be accomplished quickly and efficiently. Specifically, a need exists for an apparatus, system and method that may be utilized to strip and/or finish a wood surface without requiring frequent stopping of the apparatus.

Further, a need exists for an apparatus, system and method for stripping and/or finishing a wood surface that may remove paint, stain, varnish, wax, or other surface coating of a wood surface without leaving a large amount of residual material thereon. Still further, a need exists for an apparatus, system and method for preparing a wood surface to receive a paint, stain, varnish, wax, or other material without requiring frequent changing of the abrasive surface.

Similarly, it is also generally known to grind concrete to make it level and smooth. When concrete is poured, the surface is never completely smooth, shiny, or uniform. Frequently, concrete grinders are used to smooth the surface. Concrete grinders are generally very powerful and utilize diamond tools or silicon carbide because of the rough nature of concrete. Normally, concrete grinders are only used on extremely abrasive and tough surfaces such as concrete. It has not been known, prior to the present invention, to utilize apparatuses for grinding concrete on relatively fragile wood surfaces.

A need, therefore, exists for utilizing apparatuses typically known for grinding concrete for stripping and/or finishing wood surfaces, thereby providing quick and efficient preparation of the wood surface to receive paint, stain, varnish, wax, or other finishing material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems and methods for stripping and/or finishing wood surfaces. Specifically, the present invention relates to using systems and methods utilizing rotary apparatuses having metal embedded diamonds to cut, grind, and polish wood surfaces.

To this end, in an embodiment of the present invention, system is provided. The system comprises a concrete grinding apparatus comprising at least one grinding head comprising a rigid material and an abrasive material disposed within and on the surface of the rigid material, and a wood surface having a material disposed thereon, wherein the concrete grinding apparatus is utilized to remove the material disposed on the wood surface. In an embodiment, the wood surface comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a paint, a stain, a varnish, a wax, and combinations of the same. In an embodiment, the rigid material is metal and the abrasive material is made from industrial diamonds.

In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a method of using an apparatus for stripping a wood surface is provided. The method comprises the steps of: providing a concrete grinding apparatus comprising at least one grinding head comprising a rigid material and an abrasive material disposed within and on the surface of the rigid material; providing a wood surface comprising a material thereon to be removed; moving the grinding head in relation to the wood surface on the wood surface; and stripping the material from the wood surface. In an embodiment, the wood surface comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a paint, a stain, a varnish, a wax, and combinations of the same. In an embodiment, the rigid material is metal and the abrasive material is made from industrial diamonds.

It is, therefore, an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide an apparatus, system and method for stripping and/or finishing a wood surface that may be accomplished quickly and efficiently.

Specifically, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide an apparatus, system and method that may be utilized to strip and/or finish a wood surface without requiring frequent stopping of the apparatus.

Further, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide an apparatus, system and method for stripping and/or finishing a wood surface that may remove paint, stain, varnish, wax, or other surface coating of a wood surface without leaving a large amount of residual material thereon.

Still further, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide an apparatus, system and method for preparing a wood surface to receive a paint, stain, varnish, wax, or other material without requiring frequent changing of the abrasive surface.

In addition, it is an advantage and objective of the present invention to provide apparatuses typically known for grinding concrete for stripping and/or finishing wood surfaces, thereby providing quick and efficient preparation of the wood surface to receive paint, stain, varnish, wax, or other finishing material.

Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments and from the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a concrete grinding apparatus utilized to strip and/or finish a hardwood floor in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a plurality of concrete grinding heads for stripping and/or finishing a hardwood floor in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a concrete grinding apparatus utilized to strip very close to edges in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate a plurality of grinding heads that may be utilized to strip and/or finish hardwood floors in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a handheld rotary concrete grinding apparatus utilized for stripping and/or finishing hardwood floors in an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to systems and methods for stripping and/or finishing wood surfaces. Specifically, the present invention relates to using systems and methods utilizing rotary apparatuses having metal embedded industrial diamonds to cut, grind, and polish wood surfaces.

Now referring to the figures, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus 10 typically utilized for grinding concrete surfaces, known as a CPS G-250 rotary concrete grinder. It should be noted, however, that any rotary concrete grinder apparatus may be utilized in the present invention, and the present invention should not be limited as described herein. The rotary grinder apparatus 10 may have a motor 12 for imparting high speed rotation to a disc 20 having concrete grinding heads 22 thereon, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The disc 20 may be contained within a drum 14 utilized for housing the disc 20 and the grinding heads 22 therein.

The apparatus 10 is known for use in grinding and smoothing concrete. However, in the systems and methods of the present invention, the apparatus 10 may be utilized for stripping and/or finishing hard wood flooring 16, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Use of a concrete grinder and concrete grinding heads for the relatively delicate work of stripping and/or finishing hardwood floors has not heretofore been known, disclosed, or taught. Specifically, because the grinding heads 22, having abrasive included thereon, such as industrial diamonds or other like abrasives, it is believed that those having ordinary skill in the art have not considered the use of apparatus 10, and similar apparatuses using the grinding heads disclosed herein, for use on hardwood floors.

The present invention may be utilized to strip and/or finish any wood flooring apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, and the present invention should not be limited as described herein. Specifically, common wood flooring surfaces useful for stripping and/or finishing include solid oak wood panels, bamboo, and other like wood products, and may also include engineered wood flooring, such as made from resins or composites.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the grinding apparatus 10 may be utilized to cleanly strip paint, varnish, stain, wax, or any other material from the surface of the hardwood floor 16. The apparatus 10 may utilize the rotation of the grinding heads 22 to strip the material from the hardwood floor 16. Specifically, the grinding heads 22 may rotate in what is known as a planetary fashion—namely the grinding heads 22 rotate at high speed around a central axis 24 of the disc 20, as well as rotate at high speed individually around grinding head central axes 26.

Utilizing the apparatus 10 for stripping and/or finishing hardwood floors is advantageous because the hardwood floor may be completely stripped in a relatively short period of time. Where a hardwood floor might previously have taken days with known sandpaper-laden apparatuses, the entirety of the hardwood floor may be stripped in a fraction of that time. Because the grinding heads 22, as disclosed in more detail below with respect to FIGS. 4A-4D, have abrasive, such as diamond abrasive, embedded in relatively resilient materials, such as metal and/or resin, the grinding heads 22 may be utilized without requiring the same to be changed frequently. In apparatuses requiring use of sandpaper, the sandpaper must be changed regularly, interrupting the stripping, and wasting time.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the apparatus 10 may be utilized to get very close to edges 18, such as walls, furniture, or the like, due to the extent of the reach of the grinding heads 22, contained within the drum 14.

FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate preferred embodiments of grinding heads utilized in the apparatus 10 in the systems and methods of the present invention. FIG. 4A illustrates a grinding head 30 comprising a metal embedded with diamond abrasive within the metal. The grinding surface may be in the form of a plurality of bars 32 having the abrasive embedded therein. As the bars 32 contact hardwood floors via the apparatus 10, the embedded abrasive may strip and/or finish the hardwood floor. The abrasive within the grinding head 30 may have a large grit, such as between about 30 and 60, a medium grit, such as between about 60 and 80, or a fine grit, such as above 80. Depending on what is necessary for stripping the hardwood floor, such as the type of material on the floors, the type of wood, uneven properties of the wood, or other like properties, the grit size may be selected by the user. The grinding head 30 may be bolted to the disc 20 of the apparatus 10, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4B illustrates three alternate grinding heads 40, showing a plurality of metal discs 42 made from metal, and having abrasive, such as, for example, industrial diamonds contained therein. The discs 42 may operate in a similar manner as the metal bars 32, as illustrated and disclosed above with reference to FIG. 4A. These may be utilized to aggressively remove material from a hardwood floor surface. As with the grinding head 30, the grinding head 40 may be bolted to the disc 20, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

In general, the metal utilized in the metal grinding heads 30, 40, as described above, may be made from any metal apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Of course, other materials may be utilized, such as resins, as disclosed below, silicon carbide, or other similar material. In addition, the degree of bond between the metal and the abrasive may be specified depending on the requirements of the hardwood stripping and/or finishing.

FIG. 4C illustrates an alternate grinding head 50 in an embodiment of the present invention, of a plurality of resin/abrasive combination discs 52 that may be contained on the grinding head 50. The discs 52 may contain a resin, such as a relatively hard and tough thermoplastic resin, and an abrasive material, such as industrial diamonds. The grinding head 50 may be utilized with relatively fine grit abrasive material, and may provide a generally more gentle abrasion of the hardwood floor surface.

FIG. 4D illustrates an alternate grinding head 60 in an embodiment of the present invention, of a plurality of metal/resin/abrasive hybrid discs 62 that may be contained on the grinding head 60. The hybrid discs 62 may contain resin and abrasive, or metal and abrasive, and may alternate around the grinding head 60, thereby providing a more aggressive abrasion to a hardwood floor than disclosed above with respect to the grinding head 50. As with the other grinding heads described herein, the grinding heads 50, 60 may be bolted to the disc 20 of the apparatus 10, or may be adhered to the disc 10 via other means, such as, for example, Velcro™.

It should be noted that although specific grinding heads are shown and described herein, the invention should not be so limited. Any grinding head utilizing an abrasive, such as, for example, industrial diamonds or a similar abrasive, bonded to a rigid material, such as metal, resin, or other like material, may be utilized. In addition, grinding heads of different sizes or for use with different concrete grinders or polishers may be interchanged, such as via use of adapter plates or the like.

The grinding heads described herein may be utilized to strip and/or finish a hardwood floor, and different heads may be utilized depending on the specific needs of the hardwood floors. As mentioned above, different grinding heads may be required depending on the material contained on the hardwood floor surface, the type and hardness of the wood, the unevenness of the hardwood floor surface, or other like parameters. Moreover, the motor 12 of the apparatus 10, as shown herein, may be variable speed. Thus, depending on the effect desired by a user of the apparatus 10, the speed of the motor 12 may be changed to arrive that the effect desired.

The present invention has been generally described with respect to a relatively large rotary grinding apparatus 10, but it should be noted that other apparatuses typically utilized in concrete grinding may be utilized for stripping and/or finishing hardwood floors, such as a handheld rotary grinder 70, shown in FIG. 5. The handheld rotary grinder 70 may contain a grinding head 72, and may be utilized by a user for relatively small areas, such as in corners, around edges, or the like.

It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. 

I claim:
 1. A system for finishing a wood surface comprising: a concrete grinding apparatus comprising at least one grinding head comprising a rigid material and an abrasive material disposed within and on the surface of the rigid material; and a wood surface having a material disposed thereon, wherein the concrete grinding apparatus is utilized to remove the material disposed on the wood surface.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the wood surface comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a paint, a stain, a varnish, a wax, and combinations of the same.
 3. The system of claim 2 wherein the rigid material is metal and the abrasive material is made from industrial diamonds.
 4. A method of using an apparatus for stripping a wood comprising the steps of: providing a concrete grinding apparatus comprising at least one grinding head comprising a rigid material and an abrasive material disposed within and on the surface of the rigid material; providing a wood surface comprising a material thereon to be removed; moving the grinding head in relation to the wood surface on the wood surface; and stripping the material from the wood surface.
 5. The method of claim 4 further wherein the wood surface comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a paint, a stain, a varnish, a wax, and combinations of the same.
 6. The method of claim 4 wherein the rigid material is metal and the abrasive material is made from industrial diamonds. 